Sexual harassment cases mishandled by organisations: Deloitte Survey

It is common for companies to try and wriggle out of the situation and avoid legal processes, instead of being compassionate with the complainant. In fact, they even tactically encourage the complainant to reconcile or quit.

As workplaces move towards an informal culture, the line between colleagues and friends also gets blurred. As a result, the relationship between two colleagues extends beyond work hours. In addition, easy access to technology and social media at work inadvertently leads to there being no difference between friends and colleagues.

This change in relationship can be the primary cause for the rise of sexual harassment at work. For instance, if a male colleague compliments a woman co-worker by admiring her dress, it may seem like a normal and acceptable conversation at work. However, the woman, who is at the receiving end may not interpret it as a simple statement. Based on her interpretation or analysis of the situation, it could turn into a case of sexual harassment. If she finds the comment by her male colleague uncomfortable, she can file a complaint of sexual harassment, even if he actually had no wrong intentions.

Many such comments that sound unintentional or harmless can amount to sexual harassment, for instance, ‘You look very decked up today, that new lipstick colour is a welcome change’ or ‘Would you like to go out for dinner sometime with me’?

With the environment as it is, organisations need to have some strict guidelines on sexual harassment.

According to Deloitte, except for 8 per cent of the respondent companies, that claim they are in the process of developing a structured grievance redressal mechanism, around 50 per cent also claim that they already have such a mechanism in place to deal with allegations related to sexual harassment at the workplace. However, around 69 per cent of the companies follow a mechanism wherein the complainants can directly write to the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC).

“While these measures taken by organisations are commendable, it is important to understand that sexual harassment tends to stem largely from cultural issues and can manifest itself in myriad forms —some of which an employee may not even be able to readily identify so as to seek help,” says Rohit Mahajan, APAC leader, partner and head—forensic, financial advisory, Deloitte.

“In such cases, a more participative approach, including discussing case studies and potential sexual harassment scenarios, can help employees readily identify and respond to such incidents,” he adds.

The Deloitte study reveals some interesting facts on the way organisations in India handle such cases.

Surprisingly, around 15 per cent of the respondents revealed that their organisations had worked towards a reconciliation between the complainant and the accused. Another 15 per cent disclosed that informal discussions were arranged with the aggrieved woman and the accused by their respective team managers.

Companies are probably unaware that unless clearly requested by the aggrieved woman, such acts of finding a middle path or attempting reconciliation can be treated as flouting of the Prevention of Sexual Harassment at the Workplace or POSH Act.

However, around 62 per cent of respondents also stated that all complaints underwent a formal enquiry process led by the ICC members, with the assistance of external professional experts, such as lawyers (54 per cent) and psychologists (46 per cent).

Further, around 56 per cent of respondents stated that all complaints were dealt with by way of a formal enquiry process led by the ICC members.

More surprising is the way organisations tend to get rid of this problematic situation. Around 29 per cent of the survey respondents stated that either the complainant was offered a transfer to another department within the organisation or was free to choose her next course of action. About 6 per cent also tacitly encouraged the complainant to leave the organisation.

In 10 per cent of the cases, organisations asked the complainant to sign a document stating that the organisation had taken appropriate action on her complaint. This implies that the organisation was more desperate to get itself out of the situation and also pay safe at the same time, instead of being sympathetic or supportive of the complainant.

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2 COMMENTS

Mishandling the situation or an attempt to get out of the situation is one of the major causes for the matter being blown out of proportion and escalating to agencies outside the organization that ultimately lead to intervention of authorities and public scrutiny of the matter. Thus, the organization suffers a bad image.

The best way is to handle the matter in an unbiased manner and ask the experts for the same.

You may contact Kapgrow Corporate Advisory Services Private Limited to seek expert help in creating a preventive culture in the first place as well as to handle the matter in an independent and professional manner.

Its mandatory to submit the report to labour commissioner then why it is nit imposed upon companies to form such committees and have regular meetings.in fact as per Corp governance and compliance one is bound to form such committees and report to board.